Understanding Self Harm

Self harm is misunderstood by most people. We can make assumptions about what it is and why people do it and these assumptions are often less than helpful.

Self harm is:

• not behaviour that should be dismissed as attention seeking
• not a behaviour limited to teenage girls
• not usually a suicide attempt although a person who self harms is at real risk of death and some people who self harm are also having thoughts of suicide

These false ideas often mean that people who self harm do not get the support they need.

Self harm is a complex issue and the reasons for it are not always clear.

What we do know is that:

• self harm is often used as a way of coping
  
• physical pain is often described as a way of masking or easing emotional pain
• people who self harm often do so in secret

For more information please read the Health Scotland Booklet "Talking about self harm".

More information on self harm including specific information for those working in education.

National Enquiry into Self Harm